The new Acura ILX will be arriving soon!

Following up on its blockbuster appearance at this year’s Detroit auto show, Acura today unveiled production versions of two new vehicles at the Chicago Auto Show. A completely redesigned 2013 Acura RDX crossover sport utility vehicle and the all-new 2013 Acura ILX luxury compact sedan were shown. Both new Acura models are scheduled for launch in the Spring.

“We are excited to be launching these two new luxury models as the gateway of Acura’s revitalized product lineup,” said Jeff Conrad, vice president and general manager of Acura. “As we embark on our second 25 years as a premium luxury-performance automobile brand, we are excited about the role these two vehicles will play in welcoming a new generation of luxury car buyers to the Acura brand.”

2013 Acura ILX
The 2013 Acura ILX compact sedan is an all-new model that is positioned as the gateway into the Acura brand. The primary target customers for the new ILX are Generation Y– successful 20 and 30-somethings moving into the luxury car ranks but looking for high-value propositions in their purchases.

“First-time luxury buyers tend to place a high value on exterior styling, affordability and environmental issues, and that’s what we have created with the new Acura ILX,” said Jon Ikeda, head of the Acura Design Studio. “The strategy behind this new model is to position ILX as the first opportunity for many young buyers to enter the luxury market.”

Sleek and sporty, the ILX combines luxury, performance and efficiency. While maintaining a strong emphasis on stylish and aerodynamically efficient exterior design, the ILX features a large and airy greenhouse that provides excellent outward visibility. As a five-passenger luxury sedan, the ILX combines compact proportions with a spacious passenger interior and ample cargo space– perfect attributes for young professionals on the go.

The ILX will feature three advanced, sporty and efficient powertrain choices, including Acura’s first-ever gas-electric hybrid. The entry-level ILX will be powered by a 2.0-liter inline 4-cylinder engine producing 150 horsepower at 6,500 rpm and 140 lb-ft of torque at 4,300 rpm. Paired with a Sequential SportShift 5-speed automatic transmission, the ILX 2.0L has an EPA estimated* city/highway fuel economy of 24/32 mpg.

For those who seek a more dynamic driving experience, the ILX can be equipped with a 2.4-liter engine with an output of 201 horsepower at 7,000 rpm and 170 lb-ft torque at 4,300 rpm. Mated to a close-ratio, six-speed manual transmission, the ILX 2.4L has an EPA estimated* city/highway fuel economy of 20/29 mpg.

Marking the debut of Acura’s first ever hybrid model, the ILX Hybrid makes use of a 1.5-liter inline engine and an Integrated Motor Assist® electric motor. Paired with a Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT), the ILX 1.5L Hybrid has an EPA estimated* city/highway fuel economy rating of 35/38 mpg.

The hybrid drivetrain uses the gasoline engine as the primary power source, while an electric motor provides additional power when needed. A lithium-ion battery pack is used to capture and store electricity for the 20 horsepower electric motor. Together, the gasoline engine and electric motor produce 111 horsepower at 5,500 rpm and 127 lb-ft of torque between 1,000-3,000 rpm. During braking, the gasoline engine deactivates and the electric motor acts as a generator to recharge the battery pack. At a stop, the 1.5-liter engine can enter idle-stop mode to save fuel and reduce emissions. The engine remains off until the brake pedal is released.

The ILX chassis utilizes advanced MacPherson strut front and multi-link rear suspension systems, along with new Amplitude Reactive Dampers. The dampers operate in two distinct performance parameters to simultaneously provide superior ride comfort and precision handling. In addition, Motion Adaptive Electric Power Steering is used for excellent steering feel and improved fuel efficiency. The result is a chassis with a high level of refinement, confident handling and a nimble and sporty driving experience.

The ILX will feature a high-quality, well-appointed interior that is smart, spacious and sporty. It will offer a number of new, high-value features including a standard Keyless Access System with smart entry and pushbutton start, along with Pandora® internet radio interface and SMS text message function for smart connectivity with the world.

As with all Acura models, the ILX will have a long list of standard features, multiple trim levels (a Premium Package and Technology Package), and excellent standard safety features– including Acura’s acclaimed Advanced Compatibility Engineering™ (ACE™) body structure, front, side and side-curtain airbags, 4-channel anti-lock brakes and Vehicle Stability Assist™ (VSA®). Although yet to be tested, Acura anticipates that the ILX will achieve top crash safety ratings from both the NHTSA and IIHS.

The available Premium Package features leather seating surfaces, heated front seats, an upgraded 360 watt stereo system, a rear view camera and an Active Sound Cancellation system to make for a quieter cabin.

Building on the Premium Package, the available Technology Package adds Acura’s award winning ELS Surround® audio system and a full complement of relevant technologies, including AcuraLink® Satellite Communication System, Acura Navigation System with Voice Recognition™, AcuraLink Real-Time Traffic with Traffic Rerouting™, and AcuraLink Real-Time Weather™ with radar image maps. The navigation system makes use of a hard disk drive (HDD) with 60 gigabytes of storage capacity– including 15 gigabytes that can be specifically allocated for music storage. With the available Premium or Technology Package, a new multi-view rear camera is used.

The Acura ILX will be manufactured (using U.S. and globally sourced parts), exclusively at the company’s state-of-the-art Greensburg, Indiana plant, one of only three plants worldwide to receive J.D. Power and Associates’ 2011 Platinum Award for outstanding product quality, and the top award for any factory in North America.

2013 Acura RDX
The 2013 Acura RDX, the second generation of Acura’s five-passenger crossover SUV, will up the ante with a new approach to achieving both advanced performance and fuel efficiency via a new engine, transmission and all-wheel-drive system.

The 2013 RDX rides on a 4-wheel independent suspension with a MacPherson strut front and multi-link rear suspension design. A longer wheelbase, wider track and lower center of gravity provide the foundation for the new RDX’s improved handling and ride quality. New chassis technology for 2013 includes Acura-exclusive Amplitude Reactive Dampers and a new Motion Adaptive Electric Power Steering system that replaces the previous hydraulic steering. The 2013 RDX will be available in front-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive variants.

Standard features for 2013 RDX include bold new 5-spoke 18-inch wheels and improved 4-wheel disc brakes that include an Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) with Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist. Not only do the brakes provide better performance, but they also incorporate improvements to lessen brake drag for reduced rolling resistance and improved fuel economy.

Replacing the turbocharged 2.3-liter inline 4-cylinder used with the previous RDX, the 2013 RDX will now have as standard equipment a 3.5-liter V-6 engine that produces 273 horsepower– 33 more than the outgoing model. For even higher performance and improved fuel economy, the RDX makes use of an all-new 6-speed automatic transmission with a new lock-up torque converter. The RDX also gets a new, lighter weight all-wheel-drive system that provides outstanding performance and safety with increased efficiency to achieve higher fuel economy.

With an EPA estimated* city/highway fuel economy rating of 20/28 mpg, front-wheel-drive versions of the 2013 RDX are expected to offer the best fuel economy of any gasoline-powered V-6 luxury SUV in the class. All-wheel-drive models have an EPA estimated* city/highway fuel economy of 19/27 mpg.

The RDX boasts a sleek and more aerodynamic body, evolving RDX from a sporty, compact SUV to a more formal SUV appearance with a longer, sculpted hood and styling that is more elegant and sophisticated to match the Acura philosophy of timeless, beautiful design.

Inside the 2013 RDX, new sweeping shapes, matte surface trim, and generous use of leather combine to give the RDX interior an upscale look and luxury feel that Acura customers have come to expect. Abundant use of sound deadening materials and Active Sound Control team to provide an exceptionally quiet cabin. Additional interior features, such as larger door openings, more passenger room, increased cargo volume and an available power rear tailgate make the RDX interior even more accommodating and flexible.

The 2013 RDX will receive a host of new technologies including Pandora® internet radio interface, SMS text message feature, a Keyless Access System with smart entry and pushbutton start, and a three view rear camera. An available Technology Package will provide a full complement of relevant technologies, including an Acura ELS Surround® audio system, AcuraLink® Satellite Communication System, Acura Navigation System with Voice Recognition™, AcuraLink Real-Time Traffic with Traffic Rerouting™, and AcuraLink Real-Time Weather™ with radar image maps. New for 2013, an even more advanced navigation system utilizes a hard disk drive (HDD) with 60 gigabytes of storage capacity– including 15 gigabytes that can be allocated for music storage.

Passenger safety has always been a cornerstone of every Acura model. In addition to using Acura’s acclaimed Advanced Compatibility Engineering™ (ACE™) body structure, the 2013 RDX employs new design features and myriad high strength materials aimed specifically at occupant protection. Although yet to be tested, Acura anticipates that the RDX will achieve top crash safety ratings from both the NHTSA and IIHS.

The 2013 RDX will be produced (using U.S. and globally sourced parts) exclusively by the company’s East Liberty, Ohio plant– home to one of four of Honda plants ranked among the top five-rated assembly lines in North America in the J.D. Power and Associates’ 2011 Initial Quality Study (IQS). The first generation RDX is produced at the Marysville, Ohio auto plant.

Tips for Safe Winter Driving

It’s the first day of winter so we’re reposting this handy list of tips from last year.

This checklist, provided by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, is a perfect aid before heading out in snowy conditions.

Plan Ahead

It’s a little late for this one, but before winter starts, it’s good to get your vehicle serviced by a mechanic to check for leaks, bad hoses or other repairs.

Have a mechanic (Acura Columbus) check that your battery has sufficient voltage. Stop in anytime during normal service hours we will be happy to check it for you. Make sure battery cable connections are secure, and have your charging system and belts inspected too. Make sure there is enough coolant in your car. Completely fill your windshield washer reservoir with fluid before the first snow hits.
Spend the extra dollars for a high-quality “no-freeze” washer fluid. Keep an extra bottle of washer fluid handy in your trunk. Make sure your wipers are working properly with no streaking; if they are, replace them.

Take Precautions:

Check the weather. Don’t hit the road if it’s too treacherous to depart. If you absolutely need to go outside, plan to leave earlier or arrive later than usual. Keep your gas tank at least half-full. If you get stuck in a traffic jam, you might need more fuel just to stay warm. Pack a shovel, broom, ice scrapper, flashlight, jumper cables and warning markers or flares. Have an abrasive material, such as kitty litter or sand, ready to help with traction. Have a blanket, cell phone, some water, food and any necessary medicine (for longer trips through rural areas).

On the Road

Always wear your seat belt. Wear winter outerwear, and make sure your passengers, especially children, are bundled up for the snowy conditions.

Do not text or engage in distracting activities while driving!

Stranded in the Cold

Stay in your car, and don’t overexert yourself. Make yourself easy to find by keeping your interior light turned on and removing the cover from the dome light, if possible. Put bright markers or reflective material on your antenna or windows. Avoid carbon monoxide buildup by avoiding long stretches of idling with the windows up. If you have to keep the car running, make sure the exhaust pipe is clear of snow, and keep the engine running just long enough to stay warm.

If you are driving an Acura that is still under the factory warranty, contact Acura’s Roadside Assistance 1-800-594-8500.

Columbus Zoo Wildlights a tradition that is not to be missed!

Dates: November 18, 2011 to January 01, 2012
Times: Zoo opens daily at 10:00 a.m. with Wildlights activities operating:
Sundays through Thursdays: 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.,
Fridays and Saturdays: 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.,
Closed: Thanksgiving (Nov. 24)
Christmas Eve (Dec. 24) and Christmas Day (Dec. 25)
Cost: Regular Admission Rates Apply
Free to Columbus Zoo and Aquarium Members

We have decked the halls, trees, bushes, everything but the animals with all new eco-friendly LED lights to bring you the brightest Wildlights display ever! Central Ohio’s favorite family holiday tradition will celebrate its 23rd year and offer more holiday fun than ever before! The event is efficiently powered by gridSMART from AEP Ohio.

Know Before You Go:
- The African Forest Region is closed for Wildlights, so come early to see the gorillas and bonobos before they settle in for the night with viewing until 4:00 p.m.
- The Battelle Ice Bear Outpost and the polar bear habitat will be closed from 2pm to 9pm on Tuesday, December 13, 2011 due to a private event. We are sorry for any inconvenience this may cause.

Sounds of the Season
Get in the holiday spirit by listening to music as local organizations take the Animals on Safari Stage on select evenings.
- November 29: Joyful Noise Quartet
Nationwide
- November 30: Notables
Worthington Christian Middle School Band and Choir
- December 1 : Hawthorne Elementary
Whetstone High School
- December 2: Our Lady of Perpetual Help
Norton Middle School
- December 4: Columbus Chorus of Sweet Adelines
- December 5: Hilliard Davidson High School Madrigals
- December 7: Grove Port Madison High School
Melodies of Marion
- December 9: Cypress Christian School
Directions for Youth and Families Ohio Avenue Youth Center
- December 10: Beacon Singers
Cedarwood Elemantary School
- December 12: Olentangy Liberty Middle School
- December 13: St Pius X Elementary School
- December 14: Hastings Vocal Music
Signs of Christmas
- December 15: Liberty Tree Childrens Chorus
Signs of Christmas
- December 16: Hamilton Township High School
Grandview Singers

Global Celebrations: Holiday Light Show
Celebrating the world and the season is the theme of this ALL NEW animated holiday light show featuring all new songs, new designs and a 24 foot in diameter globe as the centerpeice. This 8 minute music and light extravaganza is presented to every thirty minutes from 5:45 p.m. to close.

The Magical Timbernacle Forest Chorus
presented by Disney on Ice Celebrates 100 Years of Magic
This Magical Chorus of 29 melodious animatronic arbors come together they form a 12-foot holiday evergreen that is sure to ‘leaf” you in amazement.

A Green Christmas at My House at Habitat Hollow
Stroll though the house and learn some environmental lessons to make your holiday season brighter and GREENER than ever.

A Down Home Country Christmas at My Barn at Habitat Hollow
Stop by and experience a little good ol’ fashioned country christmas and say hello to the animals that call this barn home.

Polar Bear Express
All Aboard the Bob Evans Train for a ride through a winter wonderland. Cost is $1.00 per ride per person or included with the $5.00 ride wristband special. Ride is subject to weather and mechanical conditions.

Kiddie Mini Sleigh Ride
Over the river and through the woods….. ok, not exactly. Allow the little tykes in your party to take a ride in this horse drawn carriage on the top of the bison hill across from the train. Cost is $4.00 per ride per person or included with the $5.00 ride wristband special. Ride is subject to weather and mechanical conditions. Ride will be available thursday through Sunday before December 23.

Santa’s Reindeer Corral
Before you enter Polar Frontier, see the enchanted animals that help Santa take his deliveries to the skies.

Polar Pete’s Holiday Wishes Tree
NEW for Wildlights 2011 is this 28 foot tall artificial sequoia tree with 15,500 LED lights shining bright as the eyes of the young and the young at heart who see it. Rodney Reindeer and Wally Walrus are back hanging around to welcome guests and present “The Night Before Wildlights” as only they can.

Santa and Mrs. Claus
Be sure to meet the jolly ol’ elf himself and get your photo taken with him. Then stop by and decorate your own cookie with Mrs. Claus in her kitchen. Additional fees may apply. **Please note that the Claus Family has requested time off after December 23 and will not be available.

The Naomi Coyle Dempsey Quest for Enlightenment Interpretive Center
See Sun Bears, Hanna our Reticulated Python, Water Monitors, Giant Fruit Bats, Golden Mantled Bats and Langurs.

The Diving Claus
Enjoy the holidays with this Zoo favorite Display of Coral and Colorful Fish. Watch Santa show off his scuba skills nightly at 6:00 p.m. (additional dives at 8:00 p.m. Thursday thru Sunday)

Manatee Coast: An Island Holiday
Celebrate the Holidays the way they do in the Thousand Islands among the mangroves with our group of manatees.

Reptile Building
See snakes, lizards, turtles and all your scaley friends.
(Keeper Lab open Thursday through Sunday)

Humbolt Penguin Habitat
Say hi to these fine birds and learn about their colder weather cousins.

1914 Mangels-Illions Grand Carousel
Visit the Columbus Dispatch Charities Grand Carousel Pavilion and take a ride on our historic carousel. Cost is $1.00 per ride per person or included with the $5.00 ride wristband special. Ride is subject to weather and mechanical conditions.

Bob & Evelyn’s Road House and Nocturnal Building
Vist the live animals that call the Australia and the Islands home during this simulated night hike.

Koala Habitat
Look through the windows at our magnificent Koalas

Giving Tree Special Thanks to our sponsors:
Located in the entrance of the My Barn at Habitat Hallow in our North American Region is a Christmas tree that is tagged with items that our keepers would like to get to enrich the lives of our animals. These items would encourage our animals to use their natural behaviors and can keep them stimulated for hours. If you would like to take a closer look at what type of things we are looking for, check the event description of Jack Hanna’s Home for the Holidays featuring Stanta Paws on December 3.

Wildlights Tours
Enjoy the peace and tranquility of Wildlights after the crowds have gone. Travel the Zoo snuggled under a blanket, while sipping hot chocolate in the luxury of a golf cart. View the lights and stop in to visit a few animals friends as well! This is a great opportunity for families with children and grandparents or a holiday date night. For more information on these experiences and our behind the scenes tours please visit: columbuszoo.org/explore_your_zoo/tours

Exciting News! Acura to Debut Three New Vehicles at the 2012 North American International Auto Show in Detroit January 9,2012

Photo credit: CASEY SHAIN/ART AND COLOUR © Automotive News

Acura announced today that it will unveil three all-new vehicles at the 2012 North American International Auto Show including an all-new compact sports sedan, a redesigned RDX crossover sport utility vehicle, and a concept version of the next generation Acura NSX super car.
The Acura ILX Concept is a styling study of an all-new luxury compact sedan scheduled for launch in spring 2012. To be positioned at the gateway to the Acura lineup, the ILX will feature three powertrains including Acura’s first-ever gas-electric hybrid. Acura also will unveil a prototype of the 2013 RDX, the second generation of Acura’s five-passenger SUV. Finally, Acura will debut the NSX Concept, which represents the styling direction for the next generation of Acura’s super sports car.
“Acura has a steady cadence of exciting new models coming to market and it will all begin in Detroit,” said Jeff Conrad, vice president and general manager of Acura sales and service. “From the all-new Acura ILX at the gateway of the lineup to the pinnacle of performance with the Acura NSX Concept, Acura vehicles are being created for luxury customers who aspire to the highest levels of quality and value, with beautiful styling and the right balance of technology, performance and environmental responsibility.”

All three vehicles will be introduced at the North America International Auto Show on January 9, 2012. The press conference will be webcast live on www.acuranews.com.

Acura Columbus Experience Survey for our Female Clients.

Ladies,

We are currently conducting a study asking our female clients to rate our dealership and the vehicle ownership experience. Your responses will help us determine if we qualify as a Top Dealership which will also allow us to qualify for the Women’s Choice Award by WomenCertified.

This survey will only take a moment of your time. We certainly realize how busy you are, but receiving feedback from owners like you has become an essential step in the improvement process for automotive dealerships in delivering an outstanding dealer experience for women, and all customers!

Your name will not be collected and your information will remain strictly confidential. No sales calls will ever result from your participation in this survey.

To begin now, please click this survey link:

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/Customer_AcuraColumbus

Thank you for your help in allowing us to be recognized as a business of choice!

Jay Barger
Operations Manager
Acura Columbus

Impulse Buying: The Facts and the Fixes

Impulse buying can cost you hundreds and even thousands of dollars a year. Just $25 a week in impulse spending equals $1300 in excess spending a year. That you can use towards that Acura of your dreams!

Here are some facts on impulse buying:
• 88% of impulse purchases are made because the item was on sale.
• Impulse buyers tend to make purchases because it improves their mood –
not because the item is useful or necessary.
• Shoppers make an average of 3 unplanned purchases during 40% of all
store visits.
• 25% of unplanned purchases are clothing items. 14% are food items.
• When people shop with the purpose of buying immediate needs for
forgotten items, the rate of compulsive buying drops 53%.
• Shoppers who drive to the store, rather than walking, are 44% more likely
to make an impulse purchase
• When the shopping trip is unplanned, impulse purchases go up 23%.

Some tips to avoid impulse purchases

It takes some effort and willpower, but you can curb your impulse spending!

• Plan your trip. Then make a list and stick to it. For those of us on a
budget, impromptu shopping trips and shopping without a
list can be a treacherous situation!
• Go on foot when possible. If you have to carry your purchase any
distance, you’ll think twice about whether you really need that alluring item.
• Shop after you’ve eaten. You know this one! When you shop hungry,
you’re more likely to buy items you don’t need simply to satisfy immediate
cravings rather than the actual needs of your pantry.
• Think on it. If you really want that item badly enough, you’ll still want it just
as badly two days from now. Most stores will let you put an item on hold for
up to a day, allowing you to decide whether or not you really want it.
• Give yourself an allowance. Sometimes little splurges really do make you
feel good, like little presents to yourself. Give yourself a set “splurge
allowance” for the month, and stick to it. You’ll begin to look forward to
picking out your “impulse” purchases!

Source: “The Impulse Shopping Fact Sheet.” Infographics.com, 2010

2012 Dublin Irish Festival and Dublin Foundation Emerald Celebration honorary chair and honorees announced.

Scott White, president of IGS Energy, has been named honorary chair for the 2012 Dublin Irish Festival.

White was one of the founders of IGS Energy and lives in Dublin with his wife and three children. IGS Energy is a seven-year sponsor of the Irish Festival and has sponsored the Dublin Irish Festival 5K for the past two years.

White was chosen as honorary chair of the 25th Dublin Irish Festival by Mayor Tim Lecklider, city manager Marsha Grigsby and former chairs for his support of the festival and Dublin.

“I am humbled to be chosen honorary chair of the Dublin Irish Festival. As both a family and corporate resident of Dublin, I understand the impact that the Dublin Irish Festival has on the community and the region,” White said in a news release from Dublin.

As honorary chair, White’s responsibilities will include being the official host of the Emerald Club, serving as spokesman for the festival, starting the 5K and Dub Crawl and opening and closing the festival.

The Dublin Foundation has named Herb and Leona Jones as the honorees of the 2012 Emerald Celebration.

The Emerald Celebration is the largest annual fundraiser for the Dublin Foundation, and honorees are chosen each year to recognize community members who have benefited Dublin over the years.

“Herb and Leona exemplify all the criteria for this honor. They have committed their lives to the Dublin community,” said Chris Kelley, president of the Dublin Foundation Board of Governors, in a news release. “Their contributions cross multiple segments of the community from cultural endeavors to historic preservation, promotion of the city and its historic district as well as education of both adults and children in Dublin. It is a great honor to be able to pay tribute to them during our foundation’s 30th anniversary year.”

Leona Jones has been a Dublin resident for more than 60 years and helped form the Ladies Auxiliary. She also helped resurrect the Dublin Coronet Band for Dublin’s bicentennial and has been part of the Dublin Historical Society since 1974.

Herb Jones has lived in Dublin for 64 years and served in the U.S. Naval Reserve from 1956 to 1964. In addition to helping the Dublin Historical Society and Dublin Convention and Visitors Bureau, he was also a member of the charter commission in 1978 that helped transition Dublin’s government from mayor-led to city manager.

They are members of the Dublin Community Church and have been recognized previously as Grand Leprechauns of the St. Patrick’s Day parade and grand marshals of the Fourth of July Parade. The couple has also been honored by the city with the United States Call to Service Award for more than 4,000 hours of volunteering.

Herb and Leona Jones will be recognized during the Emerald Celebration Feb. 25 at the Columbus Marriott Northwest. Proceeds of the event will benefit the Dublin Foundation and community programs it supports.

Tickets to the Emerald Celebration are $100 and can be purchased online at dublinfoundation.org.

Save an ADDITIONAL $500 with your Donation to Toys for Tots or the Dublin Food Pantry at Acura Columbus.

Help Acura Columbus make this year a little more special for those in need. Simply bring in any new unwrapped toy or non-perishable foods and we will donate them to Toys For Tots or the Dublin Food Pantry and give you an additional $500 towards your trade-in value! Offer valid on any new or pre-owned Acura in stock between now and December 20, 2011.

The Presidents Cup is coming to Dublin Ohio in 2013!!!

Our friends and neighbors at the Dublin Convention & Visitors Bureau are in Melbourne Australia preparing for the Presidents Cup coming to Dublin Ohio in 2013!

Check out their latest behind the scenes video. We are very excited to welcome the Presidents Cup to Muirfield Village Golf Club in 2013.

One Fan’s Opinion: Buckeye Hospitality

This is a guest post from our friend Daddy Big Bucks that was originally posted on Buckeye Planet and reposted on The Buckeye Battle Cry during the week that the Penn State story was developing and as the Buckeyes were preparing for Purdue. However, given this Saturday’s game, the sentiment is still incredibly appropriate.

To All Ohio State Fans, especially those going to the game this Saturday:

Supporting The Buckeyes

Some have observed that, given their reputation, Wisconsin fans will be merciless toward Penn State and their fans on the final Saturday of the regular season. I do not doubt this. The person posting it did not act as if they were going out on a limb. They were simply stating something that we all accept as fact.

And, given the circumstances swirling in Happy Valley, it’s within consideration to assume that this might actually get worse. Some would even say “deservedly so”, remembering road games in Beaver Stadium from past seasons. But I think this is a mistake.

Whether it was during Saturday’s telecast of the Nebraska contest or during replays of the riot that occurred when Paterno was dismissed; our ears will, no doubt, are assaulted with the 2nd most annoying chant in all of college football. When you hear it; I implore you to hear something else. While they lay proud claim to who they are, let it remind you of who we are not. Our cheer this weekend is, “We Are – Not Them!”.

No, I am not saying that we are not Penn State. While this is true, and while we can be grateful for it, it is not where our focus should be. The point of all this is, “We Are – NOT WISCONSIN!”.
We are not drunken, bottle-throwing fools who delight in other peoples’ misfortune and publicly disgrace ourselves. We are not classless simpletons who parade classless banners before television cameras, bringing shame on our university. We are not them, Columbus is not Madison, The Ohio State University is not Wisconsin.

How Firm Our Friendship

If we were to behave like Wisconsin fans when Penn State rolls into town, the Blue & White clad visitors would leave feeling defensive and self-righteous. If we behave like true Buckeyes and show the visitors cordial hospitality, if we act like we are reasonable enough to realize that they are NOT (for the most part) the same people who rioted last night and that they had nothing to do with the failure to protect the innocence of the innocents; then the visitors will return to Pennsylvania thinking not about how they were treated, but about how their own university has been utterly disgraced, and rightly so.

Let the disney channel say what they will. Let them make all the comparisons they want. Let them disgrace themselves. But do not let them compare our behavior to that of the Happy Valley rioters. I harbor no illusions about Buckeye fans doing anything that would actually be as deplorable as much of what was seen last night. None of us however, harbor any illusions about the mickey mouse club portraying ANY misbehavior on our part as being just as bad if not worse.

If we behave like true Buckeyes, if we cheer our Seniors (ALL of our Seniors) on Senior Day and cheer the team during and after the game, if we leave everything else out of it; then nothing ESPN says will matter. At the end of that game every viewer will be thinking that Ohio State is a better place than Penn State (and Madison). And rightly so.